Drum handling device



Nov. 21, 1961 Filed NOV. 27, 1957 R. J. TROLLER DRUM HANDLING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT J TROLLER I? 2 Jam Af/omey Nov. 21, 1961R. J. TROLLER DRUM HANDLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 27, 1957F/GI 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT J TROLLER nfw Attorney tates Patented Nov. 21,1961 ice 3,009,592 DRUMI HANDLING DEVICE Robert I. Troller, 1218 S.Midvale Blvd, Madison, Wis. Filed Nov. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 699,416 6Claims. (Cl. 214-653) This invention pertains to a device for carryingand dispensing liquids from a drum.

The device. is further characterized by providing a pumping apparatusintegral with a drum carrying device.

One of the great disadvantages in certain previous devices has been thatmuch time has been spent and liquid lost in transferring a liquid from acontainer in which it is received to a reservoir in a liquid dispensingdevice which may be used to deliver the liquid to its point of ultimateuse.

A great disadvantage of those devices used to pick up a drum carrying aliquid, has been the ditliculty encountered in so doing wherein theoperator must force a lifting member under the drum and must cause aplurality of arms to grasp the drum prior to picking up same. Also, inmost such devices the drum is not securely and positively held in placeand with relative ease it may be accidentally dropped from the devicewith consequent great possibility of serious injury to personnel in thearea.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device whereina drum of liquid is picked up and carried in the device.

Another object is to provide a gripping device and lifting mechanism,integral with the device, that enables an operator to quickly and easilypick up a drum of liquid.

Another object is to provide a device wherein the actual containerholding the liquid is utilized as the reservoir of the device.

Still another object is to provide a pump integral with the device,wherein the receiving base of the pump is easily attached in an operablefashion to the carried drum.

Other objects will become apparent from the drawings and from thefoliowing detailed description in which it is intended to illustrate theapplicability of the invention without thereby limiting it to a scopeless than that of all equivalents which will be apparent to one skilledin the art. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like partsand in which: 7

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a drum handling device according tothe invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a drum handling device carrying a drumof liquid, and taken from the opposite side of the device as that viewin FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the gripping mechanism of thedevice in the closed or gripping positron;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of the gripping mechanism of thedevice in the semi-open position;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional elevation of the gripping mechanism of thedevice in the open position.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2,wherein 1 is a bifurcated horizontal frame having a lower cross-wisesupport member 2 attached thereto, as by welding or any similar means atthe base of frame it and a second support member 3 attached thereto inthe same manner as support 2 at the upper side of frame 1. On eitherside of the frame 1 at that extremity of same most remote from supportmembers 2 and 3 there are located two wheels 12 and 12' which, inconjunction with caster wheels 11 and 11 (mounted on frame lsubstantially toward the rear of the frame beneath the support members 2and 3) serve to provide mobility to the device. Bifurcated frame 1 isalso characterized by having barrel positioning lugs 13 on the inside ofeither side of same. (One lug not shown for the sake of convenience.)

Extending vertically upward from support member 3 and attached theretoare two additional frame members 1 and l" which are additionallyattached to the bifurcated frame member I by supports 4 and 5. Mountedon one of the vertical frame members is a suction pump 6 having anoperating handle 7 and receiving and dispensing hoses 8 and 9respectively. Note that pump 6 is in no way attached to frame member 23.On the inner sides of frame members 1 and 1" are a plurality of bearingmembers 17 which are adapted to receive the legs 16 of an invertedadjustable U-shaped frame 23. Bearing members 17 are preferably sheavesrotatably mounted on pins 17 which are secure-1y attached to members 1and 1 as by welding. Attached to the upper portion 10 of the invertedU-shaped frame is a hydraulic jack l4 comprising a stationary piston 19attached to cross support 3, and a movable cylinder 18 and an operatinghandle 29 to operate hydraulic pump 29. Extending at right angles fromportion 10 of U-shaped frame 23 and extending toward the open portion offrame 1 is gripping housing mechanism 24. It can thusly be seen thatwhen jack handle 29 is operated to operate pump 29, inverted U- shapcdframe 23 moves upward in frame 1 and I" carrying with it the cylinder 18of jack 14 and gripping housing mechanism 24; downward movement of saidmembers results from the force of gravity acting thereon when bypassvalve 29" is opened.

Referring now .to FIGURE 2, a drum 15 is shown in the device juxtaposedto bifurcated portion 1 and gripped by the gripping mechanism which isshown in the closed position.

FIGURE 2 also discloses the pusher bar 25 which is firmly attachedtothelegs 16 of inverted U-shaped member 23.

Referring more particularly now to the gripping mechanism of FIGURE 3,normally stationary jaw 20 is adjustable to an extent as by the actionof bolt 26 (FIGURE 1), which is threadably received in a stationaryblock 27 and wherein said bolt is adapted to act on jaw 20 which isslidably received in ways Ztl" to bias jaw 20 along portion of theextent of gripping housing mechanism 24.

This adjustable feature of jaw 20 is designed to compensate for wear onthe jaw or for different size barrel rims.

A second jaw 20' adapted to be opposite, when in the closed position, tojaw 20 and adapted in conjunction with jaw 20 to fixably grasp a barrelrim therebetween, is positioned at the lower end of a pivoted member 30,which at its upper extremity is pivotally connected to a second member22 which is part of handle 21 and located at substantially right anglesthereto. A third member 31 is pivotally connected to member 22 andpivots around a fixed pivot 32.

In operation, in order to disengage jaws 2t) and 20, handle 21 (FIGURE4) is moved counter-clockwise thereby causing member 22 to move in acounter-clockwise direction which in turn causes member 30 to pivot in aclockwise direction around pivot 35 and member 31 in a clockwisedirection around pivot 32. As the handle 21 is moved further in acounter-clockwise direction, (FIGURES) member 30 continues to pivot in aclockwise direction around pivot '35, but member 31 changes itsdirection and continues in a counter-clockwise direction for a distance.

It is to be noted that in the reverse sequence of operation, a stop 36is provided (FIGURE 3) to keep member '31 from continuing in clockwisedirection, which, if allowed to occur, would destroy the locking effectof the jaws.

In practice then, when for example quantities of oil or gasoline or likeliquid materials are needed in a plant or factory in differing amounts,the drum handling device is wheeled up to a drum containing thenecessary material and the bifurcated horizontal frame 1 is made tojuxtapose the base of the drum, aided by the positioning members 13 and13'. Next the vertical adjustable inverted U frame 23 is adjusted to aheight sufficient to enable the gripping jaws 20 and 20 to be positionedon either side of the upper lip of the drum 15. The handle 21 of thegripping mechanism is activated and the gripping jaws are caused tofirmly grasp, in a locked relation, the lip of the drum.

As a final step, the drum is raised a slight vertical distance bycranking the handle 29 of the hydraulic jack, and the receiving hose 8is inserted in the drum through a hole in the top of same. Then wheneverthe gasoline, lubricant, etc. in the drum is needed, anywhere throughouta manufacturing plant, the device is pushed by an operator, graspingpushing bar 25, to that location and the liquid is dispensed by turningthe handle 7 of the pump 6.

In unloading the device, hose 8 is removed from the drum, frame 23 islowered, the gripping mechanism is opened and the device backed awayfrom the drum.

It can be seen that a device of this kind has many inherent advantages,among them:

(1) Efficient use of man hours.

(2) Speed in delivery of the liquid material to the requireddestination.

(3) Minimization of manual lifting, etc.

'(4) High degree of mobility of the device.

While in the preferred modification of this device a suction pump isincorporated, it is entirely possible to incorporate a suction pump inreverse, or a combination of the two thereby enabling the device to pickup, as for disposal, quantities of liquid material as well as todispense liquid.

While certain modifications and embodiments of the invention have beendescribed, it is of course to be understood that there are a greatnumber of variations which will suggest themselves to anyone familiarwith the subject matter thereof, and it is distinctly understood thatthis invention should not be limited except by such limitations as areclearly imposed in the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A Wheeled vehicle comprising a bifurcated horizontal frame adapted tosupport a drum; support members for said horizontal frame; verticalframe sections affixed to said horizontal frame and containing aplurality of bearing members; a vertically adjustable inverted U frameadapted to be slidably received between said bearing members on saidvertical frame sections; said U frame having affixed thereto andextending outwardly therefrom a member supporting a gripping mechanism;said gripping mechanism comprising a plurality of jaws, one of which isstationary with respect to the upper rim of said drum, the other ofwhich is pivoted to the gripping support mechanism and moveable withrespect to said upper rim of said drum; said gripping mechanism furthercharacterized by being adapted to retain said drum upper rim by saidmoveable jaw being clamped onto said rim by actuation of a toggle jointto which said moveable jaw is pivotally affixed and which is pivotallyaffixed to said member; a hydraulic jack affixed at its upper extremityto a portion of said inverted U frame and affixed at its lower extremityto one of said support members for said horizontal frame and adapted tooccasion the vertical movement of said in verted U frame.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said stationary jaw is adjustable to adegree in a direction along the extent of said gripping support member.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said bearing members constitute aplurality of rollers.

4. A wheeled vehicle comprising a bifurcated horizontal frame containingpositioning lugs adapted to position a drum therebetween; a plurality ofwheels rotatably affixed to said frame; support members uniting bothsides of said bifurcated frame; vertical frame members affixed to one ofsaid support members and containing a plurality of bearing membersaffixed thereto; one of said vertical frame members furthercharacterized by having affixed thereto a pump which is characterized byan operating handle and receiving and dispensing means; an adjustableframe member adapted to be received between said bearing members on saidverti cal frame; a jack member having an operating handle and having theupper extremity of said member affixed to a portion of said adjustableframe member and having its lower extremity affixed to one of saidsupport members and adapted to occasion the vertical movement of saidadjustable frame member; said adjustable frame member furthercharacterized by having a portion extending outwardly therefrom andaffixed thereto which is adapted to house a gripping mechanismcomprising a plurality of jaws, one of which is normally stationary, theother of which is pivoted around a fixed point and is pivotallyconnected to one link of a toggle joint, said toggle joint having anoperating handle, said toggle joint being relatively affixed to saidadjustable frame member.

5. A device for lifting and transporting a container having anupstanding rim comprising spaced apart horizontal frame members adaptedto support said container, support members for said horizontal framemembers, vertical frame members affixed to said horizontal frame membersand carrying a plurality of bearing members, a vertically adjustableframe adapted to be slidably received by said bearing members, at leastone load restraining member extending outwardly transversely from saidvertically adjustable frame and provided with means for positivelyengaging with said load, said load restraining member configured with anabutting jaw and a biasable jaw disposed to contain therebetween a rimof a container, said biasable jaw being operably afiixed to a togglejoint so as to be actuable thereby said toggle joint being rotativelyaffixed to said load restraining member, jack means attached to saidframes to provide for substantially vertical movement of said verticallyadjustable frame.

6. -A device for gripping and retaining the rim of a barrel comprisingtwo displaceable jaws, one of said jaws being rotatively moveable, atoggle joint comprising two links, said rotatively moveable jaw beingpivotally affixed to one link of said toggle joint, the other link ofsaid toggle joint being pivotally affixed to the frame of said device,said toggle joint being operably moveable to cause said rotatable jaw tobe brought into close adjacency with said slidable jaw with said barrelfirmly restrained therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,964,119 Hendry June 26, 1934 2,500,055 Baker Mar. 7, 1950 2,635,775Ernst Apr. 21, 1953 2,673,009 Hawkins Mar. 23, 1954 2,689,663 ShramekSept. 21, 1954 2,709,015 Sasgen May 24, 1955 2,738,986 Reich Mar. 13,1956 2,808,285 Robuck Oct. 1, 1957 2,817,450 Ulinski Dec. 24, 1957

